Plastic bag ban ordinance proposed

The City of Mexicali has been addressing the feasibility of approving an ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags in markets and stores.

City Councilman Héctor Ibarra told La Crónica newspaper authorities would give consumers and businesses an 18-month period to prepare before the ban takes place.

Companies would be fined in case of

Companies would be fined in case of violations. Councilmen have been analyzing the issue for the last three months.

Councilman Ibarra said phase one of the ordinance will include a period of education for customers and businesses.

Once the new regulation becomes effective, clients will use boxes, or bags made of paper or fabric, as well as California-like reusable bags.

However, the city has been thinking of forcing companies to give those bags for free to clients.

Councilman Ibarra said the city plans to implement a program funded with Mexican, state and local resources to give a limited amount of environmentally friendly bags to low-income residents.

The ordinance proposal would be ready in 10 days.

Then it would be turned over to a city commission, whose members plan to hold public meetings with stakeholders before council approval.

Mexicali Chamber of Commerce President Juan Ramón López asked city officials to consider the association’s opinion in the matter.

He told the newspaper the business organization is in agreement with the proposal but not with the fines given the short 18-month period for compliance.